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Judge threatens driver who fled police with state prison

Judge John Kennedy noted that Carlos Ramos picked up three traffic citations since July wreck.

By RICK LEE Daily Record/Sunday News

Updated:
03/20/2013 06:46:40 PM EDT

York, PA -

York County Judge John S. Kennedy sentenced a man who injured a woman when he hit her car while fleeing police to 111/2 months in county jail and four years on probation Wednesday.

Kennedy told Carlos Ariel Ramos the lengthy probationary period was so he could consider sending the 20-year-old York man to state prison if he violates his probation.

York Area Regional Police had attempted to stop Ramos' 2007 Honda Civic on South Queen Street near Coventry Road shortly after 1 a.m. on July 28.

According to reports, Ramos sped away from the officer, hitting speeds close to 70 in the 35 mph zone, running a red light and passing cars in the oncoming lane.

Police caught up to him on Pauline Drive near Queen Street where Ramos had wrecked into the car of Charlene Ness. Reports said Ness was transported to the hospital but did not detail her injuries.

Wednesday in Common Pleas Court, Ramos told Judge John S. Kennedy he had learned his lesson and outlined his plans for going to college and playing basketball.

In November, Ramos had tried to enter a negotiated plea that would have sent him to county prison for six months. Kennedy had rejected that agreement as too lenient.

He said then, "this is frankly one of the worst fleeing and eludings I've seen." He added he considered high speed chases tantamount to "somebody firing a pistol into a crowd ... and by luck, no one gets killed."

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Ramos returned to court in December and entered an open plea before Kennedy.

After hearing from Ramos on Monday, Kennedy noted that since Ramos's crash he had picked up three traffic citations for disregarding traffic signals.

He commented that Ramos may not have learned his lesson from the crash and explained that was the reason for the long probationary sentence.

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